{
  "id": 340289,
  "title": "Lionel Messi’s Father, Jorge Dies at 68",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/lionel-messis-father-jorge-dies-at-68",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-09T02:42:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/08/09/lionel-messis-father-jorge-dies-at-68/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Messi, passed away on Saturday at a hospital in Rosario, central Argentina, at the age of 68. The Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys confirmed the news via a social media post, stating that the 68-year-old had been undergoing treatment for an unspecified illness in recent months. Jorge is survived by his wife, Celia Cuccittini, and their four children: Lionel and his two older brothers, Rodrigo and Matías, as well as Lionel's younger sister, María Sol.\n\nLionel Messi's father played a crucial role in his son's career. As a chemical technician and former steelworker, he worked as a soccer player, eventually reaching the youth ranks of Newell's Old Boys. However, he had to abandon the sport to fulfill his military service in Argentina. Jorge played a pivotal part in Lionel's career, acting as his agent and managing his business affairs. He also traveled with Lionel to Barcelona in the early 2000s to attend his trial with La Masia, the club's youth academy.\n\nLionel Messi, who led Argentina to a runner-up finish in the 2022 World Cup, has won eight Ballon d'Or awards. He made his professional debut in 2005, and his father, Jorge, negotiated contracts with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Miami. Jorge also managed the use of his son's image rights and his various investments in real estate, hotels, and restaurants.",
  "summary": "Inter Miami and Argentina forward Lionel Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, died on Saturday at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario. He was 68. The Rosario-based Club Atlético",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Lionel’s Messi father Jorge Messi has passed away at the age of 68 after battling a long illness",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/lionels-messi-father-jorge-messi-has-passed-away-at-the-age-of-68",
        "published": "2026-08-08T12:16:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "BREAKING: Messi’s father, Jorge, dies at 68",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/breaking-messis-father-jorge-dies-at-68",
        "published": "2026-08-08T14:00:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s father and longtime agent, dies at 68",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/jorge-messi-lionel-messis-father-and-longtime-agent-dies-at-68",
        "published": "2026-08-08T14:53:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s father and longtime agent, dies at 68",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/jorge-messi-lionel-messis-father-and-longtime-agent-dies-at-68-312256",
        "published": "2026-08-08T14:55:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Tempo.co English",
        "title": "Father of Football Star Lionel Messi, Jorge Messi, Dies at 68",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/father-of-football-star-lionel-messi-jorge-messi-dies-at-68",
        "published": "2026-08-08T15:21:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Jorge Messi, father of football star Lionel Messi, passes away after health struggles",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/jorge-messi-father-of-football-star-lionel-messi-passes-away-after",
        "published": "2026-08-08T15:34:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "title": "Messi’s father dies after prolonged illness",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/messis-father-dies-after-prolonged-illness",
        "published": "2026-08-08T19:48:30.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}